Cell division is simply defined as the general way in which a microbial cell or […]
BACTERIAL SPORES
Spores are the resistant inactive structures formed by some prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms. Spore formation […]
SPECIFIC FUNCTIONS OF LICHEN ACIDS (SECONDARY METABOLITES)
Lichens produce two types of metabolites: primary metabolites (e.g. carbohydrates and amino acids) and secondary […]
LICHEN METABOLISM
All microorganisms carry out two modes of metabolism during their lifetime, and these are mainly […]
GRAM SMEAR OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF) SAMPLE
AIM: To detect the presence of pus cells and bacteria in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimen. […]
MICROSCOPY OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF)
Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples are obtained with extra precautions using a technique called lumbar puncture. […]
THE PLACE OF STATISTICS IN THE STUDY OF EPIDEMIOLOGY
Statistics is a branch of mathematics that is concerned with the proper method of collecting, […]
PATHOGEN & HOST FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE DISEASE DEVELOPMENT
Once a disease-causing microorganism (pathogen) gains entry into the body of a susceptible host, the […]
USE OF ANTIBIOTICS IN CELL CULTURE LABORATORY
Bacterial contamination of cells was one of the major threats encountered in the culturing of […]
EQUIPMENT USED IN CELL CULTURE LAB
Laminar flow cabinet (hood) The laminar flow biological safety cabinet which can also be called […]
BETA-LACTAMASE: an important resistance mechanism in bacteria
Beta-lactamases are enzymes secreted by both Gram positive and Gram negative bacteria, and which have […]
MULTIDRUG RESISTANT BACTERIA (MDRB)
The introduction of antibiotics into clinical medicine for the treatment of infectious diseases heralded an […]
EPIDEMIOLOGY OF MALARIA
Malaria is increasing at a worrying rate compared to the other blood and tissue parasitic […]
FACTORS THAT AFFECT TRANSMISSION OF MALARIA
Environmental factors greatly enhances the spread and transmission of malaria because these climatic factors which […]
MUTAGENESIS
Mutagenesis is the careful alteration of the genetic information of an organism’s genome in such […]
MUTATION
Mutation is a change in the genetic make-up (or DNA) of an organism.It is an […]
GENTAMICIN
Gentamicin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. Aminoglycosides are antibiotics that inhibit protein synthesis like the tetracyclines, […]
CIPROFLOXACIN
Ciprofloxacin is a fluoroquinolone antibiotic that is derived from the earlier quinolones. Nalidixic acid is […]
MINIMUM INHIBITORY CONCENTRATION INTERPRETATION: Guidelines for accurate testing
This definitive guide unlocks the secrets of Minimum Inhibitory Concentration interpretation with clear explanations of […]
MEASUREMENT OF ANTIMICROBIAL EFFICACY/ACTIVITY
The determination of the antimicrobial susceptibility of a given pathogen to a particular antimicrobial agent […]
MEMBRANE FILTRATION TECHNIQUE
Filtration is simply defined as the separation of particles from fluid or liquids by the […]
Selenite F broth
In the microbiology laboratory, pure cultures of microorganisms (e.g., bacteria) are critical to the success […]
CULTURE OF CEREBROSPINAL FLUID (CSF)
AIM: To isolate organism from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) specimen as an aid in the diagnosis […]
MICROSCOPY OF SPUTUM SPECIMEN
AIM: To detect the presence of pus cells and predominant bacteria in sputum specimens as […]
LICHENS AND THEIR BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Lichen is simply a symbiotic association of slow-growing microorganisms that is composed mainly of a […]
TREATMENT & PREVENTION OF FUNGAL INFECTIONS
Fungal infection is treated using antifungal drugs. Some of the drugs used for the treatment […]
BACTERIAL FLAGELLATION
Flagella (singular: flagellum) are the organelles of locomotion or movement in prokaryotic cells. Microbial motility […]
BACTERIAL CAPSULE
Capsules are extracellular polysaccharide (ESP) molecules secreted by bacteria, and which are normally found outside […]
APPLICATIONS OF MUTAGENESIS
Recombinant DNA technology and the use of synthetic DNA molecules make it possible for […]
MUTAGENS
Mutagens are biological, physical or chemical agents that change the genetic materials (inclusive of DNA […]
MICROBIAL ENUMERATION OF FOOD PRODUCTS
Food meant for human or animal consumption should be certified safe and hygienically acceptable after […]
The Role and Potential of Microbes in Food Production
Microorganisms, particularly bacteria and fungi, are fundamental to the sustainability and advancement of modern agriculture […]
Principles of Food Hygiene: Sources of Contamination in the Food Industry
Introduction Food hygiene encompasses all conditions and measures necessary to ensure the safety and suitability […]
ANTIGEN-ANTIBODY REACTION
Antigen-antibody reaction is an immunological reaction in which a particular antibody molecule reacts with a […]
ELISA
ELISA is the acronym for “enzyme linked immunosorbent assay”. It is an immunoassay or serological […]
STREAKING TECHNIQUE
Streaking is a microbiological technique that is used to obtain pure cultures of microorganisms (particularly […]
ISOLATION TECHNIQUE
Isolation technique is a microbiology procedure which is used to obtain pure cultures of microorganisms […]
MANTOUX (TUBERCULIN) TEST
Mantoux (Tuberculin) Test is used as a laboratory diagnostic aid to detect reactions of individuals […]
MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS
Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a slim, non-motile, non-spore forming, Gram-positive, obligate aerobe, and acid-fast bacillus (rod) […]
HAEMOPHILUS INFLUENZAE
Haemophilus influenza is a small, Gram-negative, non-sporulating, non-motile, urease positive, indole positive, pleomorphic, rod-like or […]
Fermentation Media: Composition, Function, and Industrial Applications
Fermentation media are the carefully designed nutrient preparations that support the growth, survival, and metabolic […]
The Microbiology of Beer Production
Beer is one of the oldest and most widely consumed alcoholic beverages globally. It is […]
CARE & MAINTENANCE OF THE MICROSCOPE
Microscope is a piece of instrument or equipment used by microbiologists to examine microorganisms and […]
TEST STAGES OF MPN METHOD
PRESUMPTIVE TEST The presumptive test provides a preliminary estimate of bacterial density present in a […]
MOST PROBABLE NUMBER (MPN) TECHNIQUE
The estimation of the number of microorganisms including bacteria and fungi present in public health […]
GENOTYPIC DETECTION OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANT MICROBES
The genotypic detection and characterization of antibiotic resistant genes in pathogenic bacteria is more specific […]
FEATURES OF THE VITEK 2 AUTOMATED COMPACT SYSTEM FOR BACTERIAL IDENTIFICATION AND ANTIMICROBIAL SUSCEPTIBILITY TEST (AST)
Helping the physician select the best treatment at a much faster pace based on the […]
SULPHONAMIDES
Sulphonamides or sulpha drugs are generally known as folate synthesis inhibitors because they inhibit […]
TETRACYCLINES
Tetracyclines are general purpose antibiotics used for a variety of clinical applications, and they include […]
TYPES OF ANTIBIOTIC RESISTANCE
Bacteria have evolved to survive in diverse environments. They survive exposure to harsh chemicals including […]